This footage from North Korean state media, circulating the web on Christmas Eve day, is pretty amazing. It shows people waiting in line to receive dead fish that has ostensibly been provided for them by the dearly departed Kim Jong Il.

They seem as happy to receive the fish, as they are sad that their Dear Leader isn't there to enjoy it with them.

Japan. China. India. The Koreas. Thailand. Vietnam. Indonesia. Taiwan. Cambodia. Laos. The Philippines. Singapore. Malaysia. Burma. These countries and more make up Asia – the world’s most populous region. The Rice Bowl makes sense of the dynamic politics, economics and culture of 4 billion people, stretched across a diverse landmass that reaches from Siberia to Sri Lanka.